Mackenzie Bowen and Minnie Wallace, were Top Ten Winners in the 2012 Drinkers of the Wind Performance Challenge, Local and Open Division.  This national recognition is presented by the Institute for the Desert Arabian Horse annually. The Institute’s primary focus is to save the Desert Arabian Horse through research, education and conservation.  The Desert Arabian horse is one of the oldest of breeds of horse.  In fact, it is the foundation stock of almost all other light breeds of horse.

Both Mackenzie and Minnie own and ride straight Egyptian Arabian horses which they purchased from local horse breeder, Jennifer Ligon of Avalon Mist Arabians (Shipman, VA).  Jennifer also taught both girls to ride and continues to work with them and their horses on a regular basis.  (On a side note, both girls have also started taking riding lessons with LaRue Dowd of Sprouse’s Corner Ranch.)  Avalon Mist Arabians breeds Straight Egyptian, Al Khamsa, Sheykh Obeyd Arabians, preserving the bloodline of the Bedouin tradition.  When asked about her breeding and training operation, Jennifer says that, “ I don’t want to breed just a horse, but a correct, friendly, caring animal, craving attention and whose passion, strength, intelligence, and devotion are unmatched.  The Sheykh Obeyd Egyptian Arabian is just that.”  This is certainly the case with Mackenzie’s Avalon Anubis and Minnie’s Avalon Daaim Zaakhir (Zack).

Because of their breeding, Anubus and Zack, along with their young riders, were eligible for consideration in the Drinkers of the Wind Performance Challenge.  Points were awarded based on class placing in recognized horse shows during 2012.  Susan Mayo, Chair of this Performance Challenge, commented that, “Although carrying children may not be as impressive as jumping high fences or finishing the Tevis, it probably proves the most important aspect of these Asil horses which is their wonderful temperament and intelligence, and their ability to realize when they are carrying precious cargo.”  She also praised Jennifer Ligon’s work with both horses, stating, “not only does this [award] speak well for their breeding, conformation and temperament, but it is also a tribute to you for going the extra thousand miles it takes to get a horse trained, conditioned, and ready to show.